When was the last time a book grabbed you and kept you long after you finished the final word?

It happened to me this past week. I read devoured Solitaire by Kelley Eskridge. I learned of this title from John Scalzi’s “The Big Idea” interview with the author and saw it mentioned on Suvudu’s List of New Releases — it just came out in paperback. I checked my copy out as an ebook from NYPL and devoured it. I finished the last word sometime on February second. I’m still thinking about all of it, to the extent that I might read it again very soon. I still have another week until the ebook is automagically returned to the library. Also, sleep is for the weak. I plan to give this title a permanent place on my shelf, I just need to find the time to get to an independent book store and pick it up (yes, I know posman books is in gct, but i don’t always have time to sprint through there before my train).

Where to begin without giving too much away?

The interview caught my attention with Eskridge’s comment: “I’m an only child, and I grew up in a neighbourhood without any kids. I spent my time reading, or riding my bike endless miles…”

Oh? Was she telling my childhood or hers? I honestly didn’t read further but rushed over to the ebooks at nypl to download the title briefly mentioned and read it.

I will not write more about Solitaire at this time. I think you need to be left with the little I’ve hinted to fully appreciate the alone-ness, the depth, the growth… I need to be alone with it a little longer to try to put coherency to my thoughts.

What surprised me a little upon preparing this little scribble is that I completely forgot I read and loved Dangerous Space, a collection of her stories, back in 2008! Why had I allowed this author to disappear from my list of those who write things I want to read?

I hope there will be more from Eskridge. Twice now she’s knocked me down with powerful and page-turning writing. I’m ready for the third blow.